by Patricia Donnelly
June marked the end of our academic year, as was celebrated during our 47th Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, during which Literacy Council adult learners shared their stories of success and hopes for the future. Many learners achieved a record-breaking number of personal learning goals this past year, while volunteers continued to provide tens of thousands of hours of invaluable service. All this was accomplished during the course of some of the toughest economic times our nation has seen. The Literacy Council very rarely runs a budget deficit, but this year we did. To address the situation, the Board agreed to draw on financial reserves that had been built up for leaner times such as these. Other factors also heightened the situation. Our service delivery, and the budget to support it, has been growing for many consecutive years already, and we've seen an increased need for student scholarships. Fortunately, the Student Scholarship and Advancement Fund was established so that students least able to afford Literacy Council programs would not be forced to go without them. But even with all these budgetary pressures, not a single LCNV classroom closed its doors for lack of funding.
Now, as we look ahead to the new academic year, each program is exploring new ways to strengthen their curriculum, streamline procedures, and improve communication with our stakeholders. We're in the process of launching new social media networks through our website so that Literacy Council developments will be published as they take place, and learning about them will be quicker and easier. And we're in the process of making more training materials and teaching resources available online. These improvements will add great value to our communications capabilities at very little financial cost, continuing the Council's dedication to making the most of its donors' support.
The Board of Directors also begins its strategic planning process this fall, with the background information from this year's task force work and the board development project conducted by a grant-funded Compass team. It will be another forward-thinking, busy year for the Literacy Council. I hope that you will be onboard with us with your support and service.
Patricia M. Donnelly
Executive Director
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